A Platform with Purpose

My Miss Teen Simi Valley Scholarship pageant experience was one of a lifetime! This pageant taught me valuable life lessons! This includes believing in yourself even if you feel like people or the audience are letting you down because everyone is not perfect, but unique in their own special way. 

Throughout this competition, I had to prepare for an onstage question, interview with judges, and deadlines. All of these steps and my leadership qualities helped me be confident in myself on the day of. Additionally, I made so many friends and met wonderful young women striving to become their best selves to make a positive difference in their city. 

At the time, each of these categories of the competition was making me feel nervous, anxious, and not prepared. However, before I started I always told myself to be calm and serene. Helping me cope my stress with the breathing techniques I learned from my coaches, reinforcing self belief and motivation. Managing my stress helped me make a positive impact on my physical and mental well being. 

Furthermore, along  the way I felt self doubt. How I might be less experienced then others or how I was the youngest participant in the whole competition? We all feel like we are not enough or others might perform better than us at some time in their lives. But, instead of standing still I reminded myself that I will aspire to try my best and stay true to myself. Which meant, managing my time well when I had to prepare for my individual interview, or interacting with other girls who face the same struggles like me. 

As a Childhood Matters mental health ambassador, I want teens in our community to understand that we are there for them when they experience discouragement or negative impacts on their mental health. Us ambassadors will strive to give them encouragement and positive affirmations to show that they are perfect just the way they are. .